SAN DIEGO — The term "Revis Island" has real meaning. It's a
catchy way of saying receivers covered by Darrelle Revis stand no
chance of being involved in the offense, but it has more depth to
it than that.

The
New York Jets
frequently leave their star cornerback all alone,
playing man coverage with no safety help on his side of the field.
It's an island built for two, and receivers rarely leave it with
their ego intact.

Revis is widely recognized as the best corner in the league, and
the numbers bear that out. He has pass breakups on almost 25
percent of the balls thrown his way. He has been targeted only 28
times in six games, with just nine receptions to show for it.

Last Monday night, the Miami Dolphins decided to poke this lion
with a stick. Bad idea. Revis intercepted two passes and returned
one 100 yards for a touchdown. All told, the Dolphins threw at
Revis 14 times, connected on five passes and had a quarterback
rating of 11 on balls thrown his way.

"Revis looks to me this season like he's gotten better,"
Chargers coach Norv Turner said. "He obviously had his best game
against Miami the other night. You just have to be smart when you
throw over there or if you do throw there."

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has never shied away from a
quality cornerback. He threw at former Raiders star Nnamdi Asomugha
more often than most QBs during the teams' AFC West clashes before
Asomugha signed with Philadelphia. But in two matchups with the
Jets since 2008, Rivers has thrown Revis' way six times for two
receptions, 6 yards and an interception.

At times Revis mirrors one top receiver — he did so
intermittently against Miami's Brandon Marshall — but he might have
a tough time doing so against the Chargers with Vincent Jackson and
Malcom Floyd on the outside. Revis gets plenty of help from former
Charger Antonio Cromartie, who is also good at locking up receivers
in man coverage.

Just because the Jets have the personnel to play press coverage
against the Chargers doesn't mean vertical threats are
eliminated.

"I doesn't matter who's guarding you; you have to execute like
you always do and fill your role in the offense," Jackson said.
"They're a solid defense and the corners rank among the league's
best, but this is a team game. We have to run well, keep them
off-balance and, when we have an opportunity to make a play in the
passing game, we should do that."

Gates itching to play

Chargers tight end Antonio Gates participated in Friday
morning's walk-through practice and was listed as questionable to
play Sunday at the Jets on the team's official injury report.

"You learn over time that there's some uncertainty with Antonio
following a practice," Turner said. "If everything goes well,
there's a good chance he'll play."

Gates is excited by the prospect. He's confident that he has
found a routine that can prepare him to play on Sundays. He also
admits that it could become a permanent schedule as he deals with a
foot injury that simply won't go away.

"The time off was going to help, but the biggest thing is to
maintain some type of plan for the rest of the season and stick
with it," Gates said. "I've bought into what the training staff is
doing, and we're on the same page every day. We've found a routine
that allows me to get the rest I need and the reps I need.

"That's the biggest key throughout the season, because plantar
fasciitis doesn't allow for predictions."

Other injury updates

The Chargers are as healthy going into a game as they've been
all season.

Luis Castillo (tibia) was ruled out, but Jackson (hamstring),
cornerback Marcus Gilchrist (shoulder), fullback Jacob Hester
(foot) and defensive end Jacques Cesaire (knee) were listed as
probable and will play against the Jets.

"The bye was certainly good to us," Turner said. "We worked on
some things, but the most important part of it was that we were
able to get healthy."

Et cetera

Chargers coach
Norv Turner
was noncommittal
about which running back would be his fourth on the active roster,
a new addition after multiple injuries at the position on Oct. 2 at
Denver. Odds are good that
Jordan Todman
will step
in, because the team would have to make a practice squad move on
Saturday to activate
Curtis Brinkley
or
Frank Summers
. ... The Chargers left for the East
Coast on Friday afternoon. They'll have meetings on Saturday before
the game Sunday morning.